This Is What It Means If You See Clothes Hanging on Fences This Christmas

This family simply wanted to help their needy community members keep warm during the winter months, but now their sweet project is doing much more than that.

Lynda Salisbury and her family from Gosh, Indiana, created what she calls a "blessing fence" after she saw a Facebook photo of scarves hanging in a park that were set out for the homeless to take. Lynda was inspired to do something similar, so she hung a sign on her front fence that read, "If you need one, please take one," and draped a series of items-scarves, hats, coats, winter boots, and more-outside her home. Now, the entire neighborhood is rallying around her idea.

"This is the third year," Lynda told InsideEdition.com. "I was on Facebook and saw a city that was hanging scarves on the trees in their park for homeless people. I thought, 'Well I wonder if we could do this in our neighborhood because we live in an economically diverse area of town.'" Soon after stocking her fence, the cold weather gear was gone and Lynda realized many locals needed the items.

While Lynda, her husband Scott, and her 7-year-old daughter Olivia used to be the only ones resupplying the fence, it's grown into a community project. Now, the whole neighborhood gives and contributes. "We had one man give coats from his deceased brother, but it's nice to know that those coats are going to keep somebody warm, and to know that his brother will live on through giving," Lynda said. "We need a reason to feel good this year and giving is a way to do that."

In past years, Lynda began stocking the fence in January, but this year, neighbors took the initiative to start it early and began dropping off items in October. "We have a need in the community where these hardworking people are making it paycheck-to-paycheck," Lynda said. "If we can give something to help them get through the winter, it's beneficial for them, but for the giver, it's a blessing also."

The family also receives donations from across the country with hats, mittens, scarves, clothing, outerwear, and fleece jackets coming from places like Philadelphia and Chattanooga, Tennessee, all of which, she shares with friends and community members on Facebook. Learn how you can donate to the Blessing Fence or start your own at The Blessing Fence Facebook page.